Electric flasher switch



Jan. 29, 1952 J. G. MEJEAN ELECTRIC FLASHEIR SWITCH ori inal Filed March 27, 1946 INVENTOR. M46004? 5 /71/[/9/V Patented Jan. 29, 1952 ELECTRIC FLASHER SWITCH Jacques G. Mejean, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to The Aerotee Corporation, Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Original application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,579, now Patent No. 2,476,106, dated July Divided and this application April 30, 1949, Serial No. 90,699

4 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to an electric make and break mechanism or flasher.

In the flasher of my invention the intervals in which the circuit is opened and closed or is reversed are regularly and evenly spaced and their frequency is not sensitive to variations in voltage, nor to changes in position.

This application is a division of my Patent No. 2,476,106 of July 12, 1949.

The intervals of make and break are governed, in my invention, by a rocking or swinging arm or lever the periods of oscillation of which depend on the dimensions of the arm and not on the amplitude of swing or the force which acts on it. A swinging impulse is given to the arm by a hammer actuated by an electro-magnet in a circuit which is broken as the arm swings in one direction under the impulse. A spring returns the arm in a reverse swing and closes the circuit whereupon the action is repeated.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flasher embodying a preferred form of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of the flasher shown in the drawings, an insulated rocking arm I is mounted between pointed pivot pins II and I2 between supporting plates I3 and I4 in a housing or enclosing case I5. A pair of spring contact arms I6 and H are mounted on the rocking arm I0 in position to contact in alternate succession one or more fixed contacts I8 and I9 of a circuit.

The spring contacts I6 and H are connected by suitable connectors, not shown, to one pole of a battery or other source of electric energy.

The contacts I8 and I9 are supported on separate insulated spring arms 20 and 2| respectively connected to separate insulated binding posts 22 and 23 to which the opposite poles of the battery may be connected.

A spring 24 bearing against the rocking arm I0 serves to press the contact II against the spring arm ZI and contact I9.

A solenoid 25 in the housing I is provided with a rocking armature 26 pivoted at 21 and having a hammer 28 so positioned above the arm III that when a momentary current is sent through the solenoid and the armature 26 is attracted the hammer 28 kicks or hits the rocking arm I0 so as to rock it counterclockwise, separating the contacts I1 and I9 and closing the contacts I6 and I8. The spring 24 then returns the arm III to its original position to be again kicked or hit 2 by a subsequent impulse of current through the solenoid 25.

Inasmuch as the arm I0 is balanced it acts similarly to a pendulum and has a natural period of swing and is, therefore, not sensitive to changes in the intensity of the blow of the hammer 28 and its period of rotation or vibration is thus not substantially affected by changes in the voltage through the solenoid 25. Also being balanced it is not affected by vibrations or changes in position.

The effect of a stronger impulse or blow from the hammer 28 merely causes the arm III to swing in a somewhat wider arc but without substantial change in frequency.

What I claim is:

1. An intermittent switch which comprises a balanced rocking arm, an electro-magnet having an armature, a hammer actuated by said armature to kick said arm in one direction, a spring means pressing continuously on said arm to return said arm in the opposite direction and a circuit through said armature having contacts which are opened when said arm is kicked in one direction by said hammer and which are closed when said arm rocks in the opposite direction.

2. An intermittent switch comprising a pair of spaced contacts, a balanced rocking arm having contacts to contact said spaced contacts a1- ternatively as said arm rocks in opposite directions, an electromagnet having an armature and a hammer actuated thereby to kick said arm in one direction to connect one pair of contacts and to separate the other pair of contacts and spring means pressing on said arm to rock it in the opposite direction.

3. An intermittent switch comprising a fixed contact, a balanced rocking arm having a contact carried thereon in position to move into contact with said fixed contact when said am rocks in one direction, an electro magnethaving an armature, a hammer actuated by said armature to kick said balanced rocking arm in a direction to move the contact carried thereon from contact with said fixed contact, a spring means pressing continuously on said balanced rocking arm to rock it in a direction to bring said contacts into contact, and an electric circuit comprising said contacts and said electro magnet in series.

4. An intermittent switch which comprises a fixed contact, a balanced rocking arm, a movable contact positioned to be moved into contact with said fixed contact when said arm rocks in one direction, an electromagnet having an armature,

a. hammer actuated by said armature to kick said arm in a direction to move said movable contact into contact with said fixed contact and a spring acting continuously to rock said arm in the opposite direction to break the contact between said 5 fixed and movable contacts.

JACQUES G. MEJEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

Number Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Heidger May 17, 1938 Stolp June 14, 1932 Kennedy Apr. 13, 1937 Shattuck et a1. Sept. 13, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 31, 1918 Germany Dec. 4, 1919 

